25-е

Holy Martyr Clement, Pope (Bishop) of Rome Clement, a pagan by birth, was converted to faith in St. Christ. Apostle Peter, after which he was a zealous collaborator of the Apostles in spreading the Gospel, which is why he is called a man of the Apostles and is numbered among the council of the 70 Apostles. According to tradition, he was appointed Bishop of Rome by the Apostle Peter himself and ruled the Roman Church from 92 to 101, actively caring at the same time for the condition of other churches. This is also evident from the writings of Clement, which brought him the fame of a church writer, deeply revered by the Universal Church. – The saint’s zeal for the conversion of the people in general, and especially his successful conversion of the noblest citizens of the city of Rome to Christ, aroused the indignation of Emperor Trajan against him, who exiled him to Tauride Cherson, to work in the quarries of present-day Inkerman. Arriving here, Clement already found many Christians here, exiled for their faith in hard work; he consoled them and confirmed them in faith with his word, and through miracles he converted many pagans to Christ. For this he suffered a martyr's death, being drowned in the sea. Relics of St. Clement were subsequently miraculously found by the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius when they passed through Kherson, during their journey to preach the word of God to the Khazars, and transferred to Rome as a gift to Pope Hadrian. Some of the relics of St. Ep. Clement, along with the relics of his disciple Thebes, was transferred to Kyiv by St. Vladimir after his baptism in Chersonesos, I remained there in the Tithe Church until the invasion of the Tatars; Where he is at the present time is unknown. Memory of St. Clement was sacredly revered in Russia and several churches were founded in his honor. Holy Martyr Peter, Archbishop Alexandria Peter, who was the head of the Alexandrian school, took over the administration of the Alexandrian Church after the death of his teacher, Archbishop Theona - in 300. At the height of the persecution of Christians from Diocletian, which broke out with particular force in Egypt, Peter withdrew from Alexandria for a while and zealously affirmed and strengthened not only his flock, but also all the faithful throughout Egypt for the feat. Many of them, at his admonition, did not retreat before the feat of martyrdom, but there were also those who, fearing torment, renounced their faith in Christ... The saint lovingly encouraged such people to repentance and accepted the repentant into communion with the Church, while Bishop Meletios of Lycopolis cruelly rejected all the fallen. On this issue, a disagreement ensued between Peter and Meletius, and Peter, not having time to convince him, pronounced condemnation on him. For the zealous conversion of pagans and assistance in the establishment and spread of Christians, St. Peter, “the adornment of bishops both in holiness and in the exercise of sacred verbs,” was suddenly captured and beheaded without trial. This was in the year 311. – He left behind several works 403 that are respected by the Church, especially the “Rules” of St. Petra. At the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, some passages from his book on the Divinity were read, relating to the incarnation of the Son of God: “Since grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17), we are saved by grace according to the word of the Apostle: and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God: not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8, 9). By the will of God, the Word became flesh and was found in appearance as a man (Phil. 2:7), but did not lose the Divinity; who was rich, became poor not in order to completely retreat from his power or glory, but in order to accept death for us sinners - the righteous for the unjust, in order to bring them to God... The Evangelist, proclaiming the truth, says: and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14), that is, then, as the Angel greeted the Virgin: Rejoice, full of grace! The Lord is with you. Gabriel said: The Lord is with You instead of God - the Word is with You! For it makes it known that the Word was conceived in the womb and became flesh. According to this, it is written: The Holy Spirit will come upon You and the power of the Highest will overshadow You: by the same thing, what is to be born will be called holy, the Son of God (Luke 1:35)... The Word without a husband, by the will of God, who is able to do all things, became flesh in the womb of the Virgin, having no need either for action or in the presence of a husband. Stronger than the husband was the power of God, which overshadowed the Virgin when the Holy Spirit descended.” See “East. Uch. about the Father Ts." Filar. Chernig. § 77.